TYLER, Texas — As October comes to an end so does Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but for many people, talking about the disease never stops.
Fall is a busy time of year, but during this time it's important to stop and remember the reason behind why so many people wear pink.
"In the hustle and the bustle, we did not want to forget about this awesome awareness month for breast cancer," said UT Health East Texas Scheduling supervisor Temiki Hill.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women in the U.S will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Hill unfortunately knows this too well.
"I do have an aunt who did not survive breast cancer and I also have a first cousin who is battling this disease," Hill said.
That’s why this year she spearheaded a celebration for their office, bringing awareness to the disease and also the “she-roes,” or the people fighting breast cancer.
"'She-ro' was my idea. One of our biggest she-roes in the office was our very own Nina," Hill said.
Nina Rankin discovered she had breast cancer in 1998.
"In a self-check, I found a lump, and that was the beginning," said Rankin, talking about the beginning of her journey with breast cancer.
After finishing her treatment in 1999, she said she's thankful because she knows that many aren't as lucky for an outcome like hers.
"I was extremely fortunate. I lost two friends to the same, to breast cancer over the years, for the same issues," Rankin said.
So not just this October, but every day, she wants to get an important message out there: "self-checks and mammograms save lives."